Conditions diagnosed by EEG

The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a medical test used to measure the electrical activity of the brain, using electrodes applied to your scalp. This procedure is painless and can be performed without shaving any of your hair. EEG can help diagnose a number of conditions, including epilepsy, sleep disorders and brain tumours.

Normal brain waves occur at a rate of up to 30 per second, but in someone with epilepsy, for example, the EEG may show bursts of abnormal discharges in the form of spikes and sharp wave patterns. Suspected epilepsy is the most common reason for an EEG.

Other conditions that may be diagnosed with the aid of an EEG include:

Sleep disorders (such as narcolepsy)

Head injuries

Brain infection

Brain hemorrhage

Alzheimer’s disease

Degeneration of brain tissue

Metabolic conditions that affect brain tissue

Hormonal conditions that affect brain tissue

Certain disorders of the central nervous system

Stroke

Brain tumour

Brain death.

An abnormal EEG doesn’t automatically mean that you, for example, have epilepsy. Consult with your doctor.